Children Quote by Keith Ablow
““It is a terrible and exquisitely human irony that children inadequately nurtured almost never give up on the breast. The thirst for love from a mother or father who cannot provide it is seemingly unquenchable. I have treated sixty- and seventy-year-old business executives, politicians, and physicians still desperate for approval from shriveled, emotionally barren men and women in their eighties and nineties. (257)””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Emotional Void, Keith Ablow, 2005
Even when deprived of love early, adults relentlessly seek parental approval, revealing a deep, unquenched yearning for affection.
In simple terms: Adults crave parental love despite early neglect.
Acknowledge and heal unmet emotional needs.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- therapy sessions
- family counseling
- self‑help work
- relationship building
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What unmet childhood needs drive your current behavior?
- How can you find validation beyond parental approval?
Healing may be hindered by denial or stigma.